Who is eligible

Estonia invites anyone in the world to apply for e-Residency, as long as:

You have a reasonable interest in using e-services in Estonia

You are not an Estonian citizen or a foreigner residing in Estonia on a residence permit or with the right of residence (you already have a government-issued digital ID)

E-Residency is particularly well-suited for many freelancers, consultants, digital nomads, solopreneurs and other digital entrepreneurs interested in establishing a digital services company they can manage from anywhere.

Considerations

Background check: All applicants receive background checks by the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the organization that manages the entire application process, to ensure digital identities are used by verified people with honest intentions.

Travel: Your e-Residency digital ID card is not a travel document and your status does not provide you with the legal right to enter a foreign country, including Estonia. If you are approved, you will need to travel to an official pick-up location to provide fingerprints and pick up your e-Residency kit.

Banking: Though e-Residency can be issued to anyone who meets the criteria, certain private sector services, such as banking, set their own criteria and e-Residency status does not guarantee access to these services. If you are connected to a country on the FATF list of high risk and other monitored jurisdictions, you will most likely have difficulty accessing any kind of business banking service even with a company registered in Estonia. Check out this article for an overview of banking basics.